The first question I asked myself on finding the picture of Miss Walton was what exactly is a Superintendent of nurses? Essentially this was a Matron who oversaw not just a ward but the entire nursing staff (this title was only used between 1868 and 1940 with the role otherwise being styled as Matron). She then had an assistant superintendent (sometimes known as a matron) who would support the nursing staff and a housekeeper who looked after the domestic staff. The type of duties a superintendent was expected to perform are outlined in the advertisement for the position:

The General Infirmary AT LEEDS – Wanted a lady as SUPERINTENDENT of the NURSES. She will have the entire charge of the nursing department, and be responsible for the efficient discharge of its duties. Candidates must have been trained or had experience in some hospital and be thoroughly qualified to undertake the training of probationers. Salary £60, with board, lodging, and washing…

This was the advert that Alicia Walton would have seen and subsequently successfully applied for. So who was Alicia Walton? Well little seems to have been recorded about her personal life or background except that she came from Cheltenham. However, during her short tenure at the Infirmary which lasted only 4 years, she seemed to have made quite an impact. She took up her role in October 1896 and became the second Superintendent of Nurses that was employed by the Infirmary (the first, Clara Jones, had been dismissed after nine problematic months in the role but that is a story for another day).

Within two weeks of her arrival, she had persuaded the hospital board that patient’s breakfast should be served at 7:30am instead of 5am – which I’m sure was greeted with much relief from the patients – and ensured they would dine at 12:30pm.

During her time at the infirmary she also oversaw an increased intake of both fully trained and probationer nurses and began a more systematic training system which was lengthened to 2 years.

Perhaps another sign of her power of persuasion is from her salary. Although in the advertisement the salary stated is £60 a year her actual starting salary appears to have been £80 (roughly the equivalent of £6750 today) by 1871 she was receiving £100 a year (£8500).

I like to think that my first impressions of Alicia as a kindly woman were correct and this would have made her a great nurse but I think based on the rapid changes she made in her short time at the Infirmary she was also a strong-willed and efficient Superintendent and I would definitely not have wanted to get on the wrong side of her.